Would you be interested in a palm-sized eInk reader? - Page 2

peitsao · 06-19-2010, 07:54 AM

I tried reading Cronin's The Passage on my iphone and ended up so cross-eyed I was seeing double for many hours after I put it down. Not worth the convenience.

christie · 06-19-2010, 12:42 PM

My favorite ebook reader ever was a Handspring Visor Edge. It was super thin, slid into my pocket, and had a built in metal flip cover for protection. I loved it! Unfortunately, it had very little memory and wasn't in color, so I "upgraded" to a pda that I never used as a pda--only for reading. How stupid was I? I could deal with the small memory now for an ereader that portable.

TallMomof2 · 06-21-2010, 01:47 PM

If the palm sized device included an eInk screen with improved contrast and faster refresh rates I'd definitely be very interested. I read for years on PDAs so even though constant page turns are annoying I'm used to it.

A palm sized eInk device would probably need a built in light either side light the screen or a book light that is attached to the device and unfolds or extends when you need light.

tehKitten · 06-21-2010, 02:01 PM

I won't like it, because I can't read manga's on it.

jasonfedelem · 06-21-2010, 07:29 PM

My blackberry works just fine for interim reading. While a pocket sized e-ink might be nice, I also dont wan't yet ANOTHER device to carry and keep charged.

BenLee · 06-21-2010, 10:44 PM

I honestly cannot imagine reading on any device the size of a phone. Ain't gonna happen. Why would I torture my eyes like that?

HansTWN · 06-22-2010, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenLee

I honestly cannot imagine reading on any device the size of a phone. Ain't gonna happen. Why would I torture my eyes like that?

Well, maybe the Dell Streak... with the 5" screen. But, in a pinch, on a dark bus ride I have read on my phone (3.6" screen). Better than sitting around bored for hours. Though nothing I would want to do on a regular basis.

Sweetpea · 06-22-2010, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I used to read a lot with my Treo and before that on my Palm E2. I think with that sized device, you need a backlit screen. Why? Auto scroll!

Auto scroll makes reading on this sized device possible, reading a book one page at a time means many many MANY page advance button presses. Your finger will get very tired. With auto scroll, you set it up, and start to read.

Ewww!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

I can't speak for anyone else but auto scroll would drive me up the wall! Interesting idea, though.

Same here...

I tried auto scroll once. Turned it off after a minute. I hate it!

I'd love a touchscreen, PDA-sized e-ink reader. My BeBook Mini is too large to put in my pocket.

beachwanderer · 06-22-2010, 02:18 AM

I think it's not viable at this stage to put any money in the development of such a device. It would fit only a very narrow gap in the market indeed.

With a different generation of eInk-Display (colour, higher refresh-rate), well that could be possible.

Actually there was an eInk reader the size of a palm with a flexible display in the making. But the company could not manage the project on its own and was sold so a taiwanese firm. It was the Readius (still to be found in the wiki-pages here

). Looked like a nice idea. Maybe it will resurface, who knows.

By the way: I do still read on my palm OS devices from time to time. But I hate autoscroll too.

Victoria · 06-23-2010, 03:54 PM

No - but not a silly idea. I use an iPod touch for the same purpose - so no need for a separate e-ink. Generally though I already find the 6" screen of my sony reader too small - it's tiresome to hit page button every single minute!

What I would like are smaller margins so the existing screen space isn't so wasted. With paragraph breaks, indented dialogue, etc., 50% of the screen real estate is wasted.

BenLee · 06-23-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Well, maybe the Dell Streak... with the 5" screen. But, in a pinch, on a dark bus ride I have read on my phone (3.6" screen). Better than sitting around bored for hours. Though nothing I would want to do on a regular basis.

If I'm caught without my Kindle, or without my iPod, or without a physical book, or without a friend, or without my laptop....

THEN, I may consider reading from a little palm-sized screen.

Even then, probably not for more than an hour.

simplyparticular · 06-24-2010, 04:48 PM

I've been happily reading on PDAs and smartphones for 7 years. The hardware isn't as important as the SOFTWARE. Stanza and eReader have provided device-agnostic, fabulous reading experiences for nearly a decade. I still can't figure out why the Big e-Ink hardware sellers haven't learned from them.

Having tested a Nook, Kindle and 2 Sony devices in the last 6 weeks, they all have a way to go to provide the customizable e-reading experience I've come to expect. The e-Ink screen is really their only strength.

So if you could get B&N to license eReader, or Amazon to license Stanza (yeah, right), you might have a fighting chance with a palm/pocket size e-Ink device. But if the idea is to foist the same half-baked firmwares that the e-Ink market relies on, don't bother.

And I loathe auto-scroll.

emoorman · 06-26-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

I've been happily reading on PDAs and smartphones for 7 years. The hardware isn't as important as the SOFTWARE. Stanza and eReader have provided device-agnostic, fabulous reading experiences for nearly a decade. I still can't figure out why the Big e-Ink hardware sellers haven't learned from them.

Having tested a Nook, Kindle and 2 Sony devices in the last 6 weeks, they all have a way to go to provide the customizable e-reading experience I've come to expect. The e-Ink screen is really their only strength.

So if you could get B&N to license eReader, or Amazon to license Stanza (yeah, right), you might have a fighting chance with a palm/pocket size e-Ink device. But if the idea is to foist the same half-baked firmwares that the e-Ink market relies on, don't bother.

And I loathe auto-scroll.

Actually, B&N owns ereader.com. As I understand, Fictionwise bought ereader, then B&N bought Fictionwise.

I'm with you on the software. All my ebooks (130+) are from ereader.com. I have read on Palm PDAs, Palm phones and now a Moto Q9h Win Mobile phone. Personally I like the eReader software and the smaller size of the phones. I am a 72 year old man and would like my reader to fit in a dress shirt pocket so I can easily take it anywhere without lugging a separate bag. The only thing I don't like about reading on a phone is the short battery time.

BenLee · 06-26-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emoorman

The only thing I don't like about reading on a phone is the short battery time.

Maybe that's a safety feature to prevent your eyes from exploding due to the strain.

J. Strnad · 06-26-2010, 01:49 PM

I didn't want to vote "no, that's a silly idea" because it might be a good idea for someone else. But personally, no, I'm not interested.

View Poll Results: Would you be interested in a smartphone-sized eInk device?
No, that is a silly idea.	107	56.02%
It depends. I need to see more specifics.	52	27.23%
Yes, my Kindle/Sony/Nook/iPad is too bulky to take everywhere	20	10.47%
Yes, but I'd like a touch screen with that.	12	6.28%
Voters: 191. You may not vote on this poll

06-22-2010, 02:18 AM	#24
beachwanderer - Posts: 2,602 Karma: 16748808 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: At the Baltic Sea Device: Some	I think it's not viable at this stage to put any money in the development of such a device. It would fit only a very narrow gap in the market indeed. With a different generation of eInk-Display (colour, higher refresh-rate), well that could be possible. Actually there was an eInk reader the size of a palm with a flexible display in the making. But the company could not manage the project on its own and was sold so a taiwanese firm. It was the Readius (still to be found in the wiki-pages here ). Looked like a nice idea. Maybe it will resurface, who knows. By the way: I do still read on my palm OS devices from time to time. But I hate autoscroll too. Last edited by beachwanderer; 06-22-2010 at 03:43 AM.

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06-19-2010, 07:54 AM	#16
peitsao Addict Posts: 211 Karma: 32760 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Allegheny Mountains Device: Kobo mini, PW3,NookST	I tried reading Cronin's The Passage on my iphone and ended up so cross-eyed I was seeing double for many hours after I put it down. Not worth the convenience.

06-19-2010, 12:42 PM	#17
christie Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: pda, K2, nook	My favorite ebook reader ever was a Handspring Visor Edge. It was super thin, slid into my pocket, and had a built in metal flip cover for protection. I loved it! Unfortunately, it had very little memory and wasn't in color, so I "upgraded" to a pda that I never used as a pda--only for reading. How stupid was I? I could deal with the small memory now for an ereader that portable.

06-21-2010, 01:47 PM	#18
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	If the palm sized device included an eInk screen with improved contrast and faster refresh rates I'd definitely be very interested. I read for years on PDAs so even though constant page turns are annoying I'm used to it. A palm sized eInk device would probably need a built in light either side light the screen or a book light that is attached to the device and unfolds or extends when you need light.

06-21-2010, 02:01 PM	#19
tehKitten Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 696 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: none	I won't like it, because I can't read manga's on it.

06-21-2010, 07:29 PM	#20
jasonfedelem Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 202232 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Device: Kindle Paperwhite Gen2	My blackberry works just fine for interim reading. While a pocket sized e-ink might be nice, I also dont wan't yet ANOTHER device to carry and keep charged.

06-21-2010, 10:44 PM	#21
BenLee eReader Junkie Posts: 304 Karma: 1220 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York City, NY Device: Kindle + Sony	I honestly cannot imagine reading on any device the size of a phone. Ain't gonna happen. Why would I torture my eyes like that?

06-23-2010, 03:54 PM	#25
Victoria Wizard Posts: 1,017 Karma: 19767610 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nova Scotia Canada Device: ipad, Kindle PW, Kobo Clara; iphone 7	No - but not a silly idea. I use an iPod touch for the same purpose - so no need for a separate e-ink. Generally though I already find the 6" screen of my sony reader too small - it's tiresome to hit page button every single minute! What I would like are smaller margins so the existing screen space isn't so wasted. With paragraph breaks, indented dialogue, etc., 50% of the screen real estate is wasted.

06-24-2010, 04:48 PM	#27
simplyparticular Guru Posts: 610 Karma: 1395952 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Device: Oasis 3 & GlowLight 4	I've been happily reading on PDAs and smartphones for 7 years. The hardware isn't as important as the SOFTWARE. Stanza and eReader have provided device-agnostic, fabulous reading experiences for nearly a decade. I still can't figure out why the Big e-Ink hardware sellers haven't learned from them. Having tested a Nook, Kindle and 2 Sony devices in the last 6 weeks, they all have a way to go to provide the customizable e-reading experience I've come to expect. The e-Ink screen is really their only strength. So if you could get B&N to license eReader, or Amazon to license Stanza (yeah, right), you might have a fighting chance with a palm/pocket size e-Ink device. But if the idea is to foist the same half-baked firmwares that the e-Ink market relies on, don't bother. And I loathe auto-scroll.

06-26-2010, 01:49 PM	#30
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	I didn't want to vote "no, that's a silly idea" because it might be a good idea for someone else. But personally, no, I'm not interested.

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